THE QUALITY VOTE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 673, 27 October 1933, Page 6

THE QUALITY VOTE

T. GOiDiFiREY

BURNHAM.

(,To the Editor) .Sir, — (It was unfortunate that Mr. Earle Viaile's address was not reported quite aceurately since he intended householding and not property holding as a necessary qualification for an extra vote. This puts a very different complexion on his proposals and goes a lonigi way to mitigaterwhat at first appeared to be" distinctly a oneclass scheme. T am reluctantly compelled t0 agree with Mjr. Yaile that apathy and ignorance do seem to he the only qualifications of a very great majordty iwho' exercise the privilege to vote. I would like to point out, however, that material wealth is no indication of personal worth. Oecil Rlhodes realised this and drafted the conditions of his scbolarships accordingly, stressing the necessity for espirit de corp, moral stahiiity and organising pow,er, as well as average scholastie atta'inments. I would submit that the conditions goveming the Rhodes Scholarships, if made the basis for extended franchise, would minimise the dangiers attendant upon such a scheme as suggested by Mr. Vaile. Although Mr. Vaile argues that having a stake in the country would influence a man to politioal integrity, this is iby no means a criterion. Many instances could be cited where national and individual interests ha.ve clashed, and th'erein lies the chief weakness of Mr. Vaile's argumient. Where this position arises, we can safely preddct from past experience that the country's interests would he suhordinated. When we cease to guage our progress gntirely hy material standards and star-t a broad application of ethics to politics, then, we may look for a marked improvement in world affairs. — 1 am, etc.,

Rotorua, 26/10/33-.